Brand new whiskey drinker here .....

Stayed away from it totally while the kids were growing up, and just drank a couple of glasses of wine every other year or so. Always planned to stock up when the kids left.

Well --- the kids have left.

So I'm stocking up.

I know very little about bourbon and started with Wild Turkey 81 (I thought I'd go with the milder WT before moving up). I actually thought WT 81 wasn't bad and I have since moved up to WT 101 and WT RB. All good stuff and I will never be going back to WT 81.

Other bourbons I have tried and are now part of my collection include:

- Makers Mark (smooth, easy to drink, smells great in the glass and has a nice caramel taste to it).
- Jim Beam Black (inexpensive premium bourbon. Little more complex than the Makers Mark).
- Woodford Reserve (a bit expensive for what I got out of it. Not sure I liked it better than JB Black).
- Bulleit Frontier Whiskey (pretty rough around the edges. I like it).

Basically I discovered I definitely enjoy bourbon and am looking forward to trying out a bunch of them. I think next I'll get some Knob Creek or Jefferson. This website has been very helpful in learning about some of the more obscure bourbons and I am looking forward to your reviews on them.

I have also tried a little Tennessee whiskey:

- Jack Daniels Old no. 7 (liked it better than I thought it would).
- Gentleman Jack (very smooth. I think I will always keep some of this on hand).

Thought what the heck, I'd give Scotch whisky and Irish whiskey a go and I have tried:

- Jameson Irish whiskey
- Johnnie Walker Black Scotch
- Macallan 12

Decent enough, but I do like bourbon (and Tennessee whiskey) better than the European stuff (so far).

My eldest son also drinks whiskey and he is more a fan of Scotch than bourbon, probably because the Scotch is a bit more mellow.

Anyway, glad to be aboard and plan to learn a lot from everyone on here.

Brand new whiskey drinker here .....

Originally Posted by PcolaDawg

- Makers Mark (smooth, easy to drink, smells great in the glass and has a nice caramel taste to it).
- Jim Beam Black (inexpensive premium bourbon. Little more complex than the Makers Mark).
- Woodford Reserve (a bit expensive for what I got out of it. Not sure I liked it better than JB Black).
- Bulleit Frontier Whiskey (pretty rough around the edges. I like it).

Based on these experiences, maybe try Old Weller Antique, Baker's, Old Forrester Signature, and Four Roses Single Barrel.

And OGD is a favorite around here for a reason. The Bottled in Bond and 114 are top contenders for value, and excellent in their own right.

Re: Brand new whiskey drinker here .....

Welcome to SB! I 2nd or 3rd squire and Yeti's recommendations on the Old Grand-Dad BIB or 114. Looks to me like you're going about it the right way - try diversity and find what you like (and if you like it all, it just makes the shopping easier!) As long as your having fun, you're doing it right

Gary (aka 'Country')=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
"Too much of anything is bad, but too much of good whiskey is barely enough." - Mark Twain
"Because Whiskey Matters!" - David Perkins

Re: Brand new whiskey drinker here .....

Welcome to the board, Dawg!!!
Have fun here (you almost can't avoid it). Learning from your own experiences, with a tip or two from the knowledgeable folks here, will provide a lifelong journey towards Bourbon Nirvana (which is attained whenever you think it is, as often as you say, and from as many sources as you can find and like). I get there about three times a week; .....but that's just me.